Juan Martin Del Potro Will Play The Australian Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Will Not

by Staff | January 7th, 2015, 8:40 am
  • 9 Comments

In a mixed morning of news, Juan Martin del Potro announced that he intends to play Sydney next week and then the Australian Open.

“I wanted to tell you that we decided to travel to play Sydney and the Australian Open,” he wrote on Facebook today. “I missed the tour, I missed to compete, I missed interacting with you on court and those feelings outweigh the pain in the wrist, which comes and goes and prevented me from having the ideal pre-season training.

“I don’t expect great results, I just want to feel the competition, I want to feel an active player once again, nearly a year after my last match. At this point I don’t care about the rankings. The situation is different. I take it as a reward for the effort that I put to come back.


“The experience of my previous injury will help me so as not to be too anxious. I follow what my doctor Richard Berger says. I have to be patient.”

Del Potro, who withdrew from Brisbane, played his last singles match on February 25th, 2014, when he was forced to retire against Somdev Devvarman in Dubai. He then underwent surgery on his left wrist on March 24.

Meanwhile, former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew his name from the Australian Open. The Frenchman has been battling a forearm/wrist injury since the fall season.

“It’s with a big disappointment that I have to postpone today the start of my season declining the Australian Open. I’m still suffering from a forearm inflammation (intersection syndrome ) and that prevents me being at 100% of my capacities in a competition. Then I’m going to receive over 3 weeks all the needed treatments to be able to be back on track in the best conditions. Thanks to all of you for your numerous messages and for the support you are giving me !”

A runner-up in 2008, this is the first time Tsonga has ever missed the Australian Open. Tsonga has made the fourth round or better there six of the last seven years.

US Open champion Marin Cilic is also expected to announce soon that he will be unable to play in Australia due to an elbow injury.


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9 Comments for Juan Martin Del Potro Will Play The Australian Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Will Not

brando Says:

Excellent news regarding the tower from tandil. Seeing him on court will be a privilege regardless of the result.

January 7th, 2015 at 8:52 am


brando Says:

Bummer for jo and good luck. Gotta say: this AO looks depleted with the injury withdrawals, fitness/ form concerns regarding many. Arguably a prime time for a young player to strike so early in the season: fresh, motivated with the main guys not at their most imposing looking.

January 7th, 2015 at 8:54 am


RZ Says:

It’ll be great to see JMDP back, but I hope it’s not a premature return. Would hate for him to have to go on another extended injury break.

January 7th, 2015 at 11:59 am


TennisVagabond.com Says:

Excited to have JMDP back, but hate to see him complaining of soreness still in his wrist. Hopefully this is a normal part of the recovery, but his statement almost reads like, “I’m just happy to be on tour and enjoy it and don’t expect to be a challenger anymore.”
Certainly hope that’s just his modesty and not the case.

Losing Tsonga is too bad in that it takes away from the fun of round of 16 and quarters, but let’s face it, he wasn’t going to be a serious challenger. Cilic on the other hand- major bummer!

Everyone is anxious to see what the young man can do this year. I’ll admit, I’m one of those who believes he caught a wave last year and it lasted long enough for the title, but I hope I;m wrong. He can certainly stand in for JMDP as the big gun until (if) JMDP gets back.

I agree with Brando that this is an opportunity for guys like Gulbis, Raonic, Dmitrov.

Rafa just getting back to the game, Murray not yet proven as a Slam contender again, Tsonga and Cilic out. But I still expect Novak and Fed to hold strong. Kei is the most serious threat, I think, but I’m very excited to see Kyrgios and Gulbis’s form. We know they have it in them to do serious damage. I feel like Australia is not Milos’s spot with the slowish conditions, but it is where he first broke out a few years back.

The tournament in Brisbane is an interesting preview: the young guns and Fed.

January 7th, 2015 at 2:17 pm


Okiegal Says:

@Brando…..In reference to a post you made on 1/16/15 @2:26 on the Rafa thread “Combacks Are Not the Easiest……You stated that Rafa had knee surgery in 2009. This is news to me. You did mean Rafa, didn’t you……or someone else?? I wasn’t going to post anymore but I’m very curious about this comment!!

January 7th, 2015 at 4:20 pm


Michael Says:

Euphoria conflated with despair. Good piece of news for Del Potro and bad news for Tsonga just continues unabated and I think he has lost his way after his fantastic win at Indian Wells.

Now coming to Del Potro, can he rise like a phoenix from the ashes and replicate Rafa’s model of come backs ? It is unfair to expect him to come out with all guns blazing at the Australian Open but his mere presence would add to the glamour and increment the attractive quotient. I hope from now on his career is not dogged by injuries and he is allowed the liberty to play his natural bludgeoning game which is just a treat to watch. I am sure playing many tournaments would provide him the rhythm and comfort to get back into his groove. On the positive side, it is easy for him to climb up the rankings just becuase last year it was a wash out in terms of participation.

January 7th, 2015 at 11:35 pm


TennisVagabond.com Says:

Yeah, DelPo’s down to 135. He made it to second round last year, so he needs one win to “maintain” and two wins to rise (not considering the fluctuations of all other players).

At this ranking he will need wild cards to get direct entry to the Masters tournaments, but I imagine he will get them.

If he can make R3, I’ll consider that a celebratory triumph. But there’s no reason to be despondent if he loses R1 either. He’s been off a loooong time.

January 8th, 2015 at 8:03 am


Okiegal Says:

I can’t wait to see DelPo on court again. Best wishes to him and his team. He’s had more than his share too…….Good luck to JMD and his fans!!

January 8th, 2015 at 8:55 am


Cole Says:

So called best returner in the world couldn’t force a single break point in 3 sets.

Good job Dr Ivo.

January 8th, 2015 at 11:41 am

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